Shelf support



Dec. 9, 1941. E. NQIFZINGIEVR ETAL 2,265,542

SHELF SUPPORT Filed Nov. 24, 1939 E 14194 E NdF' ATTORNEY;

Patented Dec. 9, 1941 SHELF SUPPORT Earl E. Nofzinger and Oscar E. Norberg, Greenville, Mich., assignors to Gibson Electric Refrigerator Corporation, Greenville, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application November 24, 1939, Serial No. 305,768

6 Claims.

This invention relates to supports for the shelves of a refrigerator or the like, and more partlcularly to supports having adjustable means thereon for accurately positioning and guiding slidable shelves within arefrigerator.

With present day large scale production methods, it is diflicult to maintain an even spacing of the side walls of the linings of different refrigerators of the same rated capacity. Also, there is a tendency for refrigerator shelves to vary slightly in width. As a result, the proper supporting and guiding of refrigerator shelves for sliding movement has become a serious problem. If ordinary supports of the same dimensions are employed in all refrigerator cabinets of like capacity, some shelves will fit too loosely therein, while others may be too tight or cannot be inserted at all.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel shelf support and guide which is fitted with means capable of adjustment in a horizontal direction whereby oppositely arranged supports may be adjusted to compensate for variations in width of different linings, as well as for shelves of various widths.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable shelf support which is simply and economically fabricated.

For a more detailed description of the invention reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a fragmentary pictorial view of the lower portion of a refrigerator cabinet and shelf therein in which the invention is embodied;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a support such as that illustrated in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 33 of Figure 2 and showing the two adjustable guiding devices in different adjusted positions.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a refrigerator cabinet it! having a lining I The upper part of the cabinet has been broken away and the door removed to show the interior of the cabinet.

Secured to opposite vertical side walls of the lining l are a plurality of shelf supports |2 which carry a conventional shelf I3 made up of an outer frame l4 and a plurality of grid bars l5. Preferably four of the supports l2 are employed to hold the shelf |3, two on each side wall of the lining, though more than four may be used if desired. Each support comprises a body portion l6 having a pair of vertically spaced horizontal U- shaped grooves |8 therein adapted to receive the shelf Hi. All of the upper grooves in the supsupports are provided with the adjusting means about to be described and shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3.

Extending completely through the body portion Hi from the rear surface I! of the shelf support l2, and intersecting the grooves I8 therein, are two apertures IS. The ends of the apertures l9 adjacent the grooves l8 are counterbored or otherwise enlarg'ed slightly at 20. An internally and externally threaded sleeve 2| is positioned in each aperture. Each sleeve has an enlarged head 22 at one end located in the respective counterbore 20.

A screw 24 having a large cylindrical head 25 is threaded into each sleeve 2|. The head 25 of the screw is received in the respective counterbore and the end of the head forms the effective bottom of the groove l8. The head of the screw is adjustable in a direction into and out of the groove l8 by turning the screw in the internal threads of the sleeve. Thus, the effective depth of the groove may be readily varied. Figure 3 shows the screws 24 in two different positions.

The end of each sleeve 2| opposite the head 22 extends outwardly from the body portion l6 and through a h'ole in the lining I of the cabinet. A

.nut 23 threaded onto the last mentioned end of each sleeve 2| serves to clamp the support |2 to the lining II.

By employing supports such as those just described, proper mounting of the shelf |3 becomes a simple matter. The supports I2 are secured to the side Walls of the lining by means of the nuts 23, and the screws 24 may then be turned in or out until the heads thereof properly engage the side edges of the shelf. Thus, an accurate fit between the shelf and the supports is assured.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention provides novel shelf supporting and guiding meansin said adjustment to compensate for variations in lining and shelf widths is easily obtained.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

groove and being adjustable axially of said sleeve whereby to vary the effective depth of the groove. 2. A shelf support comprising a body portion having a surface adapted for engagement with a vertical wall of a compartment, 'said'body'portion having a horizontal groove therein extending parallel to said surface and an aperture extending through said body portion normal to said sur- 2,265,542 I? a (I securing said shelf support to said compartment wall.

4. A shelf support comprising a body portion adapted for attachment to a vertical wall of a compartment, said support having a groove therein for the reception of an edge of a shelf, means on said body portion for attaching the latter to said compartment wall, and. means in addition to said last named means located in said groove and adjustable toward and away from the bottom 1 thereof for varying the effective depth of the groove.

5. Ashelf support comprising a body portion adapted for attachment to a wall, said support face and intersecting said groove, an internally and externally threaded sleeve in said aperture, a screw threaded stop having a portion within said sleeve and-adjustable in a direction into and out of said groove for varying the efiective depth of the latter, and aunt threaded onto said sleeve for clamping said support to said wall.

3. A shelf support comprising a body portion having a surface adapted for engagement with a wall of a compartment, said body portion having an aperture therethrough normal to said surface and a horizontal groove parallel to said surface and intersecting said aperture, a stop within said aperture, said stop having a portion located in said groove and being adjustable axially of said aperture whereby to vary the effective depth of the groove, and means in addition to said stop for having a laterallyextending horizontal ledge thereon for the reception of an edge of a shelf, means on said body portion for attaching the latter to said wall, and means in addition'to said last named means mounted on said body portion adjacent said ledge and adjustable laterally thereof to vary the effective width of said ledge.

6. A shelf support comprising a body portion having a horizontal ledge on one side thereof adapted to receive and support an edge of a shelf, a hollow wall attaching member carried by and extending laterally from the opposite side of the body portion, means associated with the interior of the wall attaching member and the body portion which is adjustable laterally of the ledge to vary the effective .width of the ledge, and means associated with the exterior of the wall at taching member for attaching the support to the Wall.

- EARL E. NOFZINGER.

3 CSCAR E. NORBERG. 

